"He certainly is not a politically powerful figure," a European ambassador said.

"Look around this whole region: there are too many places where a tiny spark can start a forest fire," said a European ambassador.

"People don't pay much attention to China any more," a European ambassador said the other day.

"I'll tell you a secret," said a veteran European ambassador in the region.

"The problem for us is to know what the Americans will do," said a European ambassador here.

"They have no conception of how badly these steps are viewed in the outside world," a European ambassador said.

"It could be a turning point," said a European ambassador in this city.

That, a European ambassador said, is easier said than done.

Participants were held for several hours and then released after various European ambassadors protested.

"It could be either of those things," said a European ambassador.